Field Notes From Global Tech Ethnographer Tricia Wang.

“People are using social media in subversive ways. Whether you’re using algorithms to search text or actual people—and China has the largest cyber police force in the world—it’s much easier to censor text than images. So people are very subversive in hiding messages in pictures. These pictures are sometimes very different than what people are texting, or will often say a lot more than the actual text itself.”

Read the full article here

There are those days when you feel all gloomy but then a package arrives from the other side of the world and suddenly the sun is shining again, even in London.

In this case Daisuke Konno, the creative head behind the fashion label “Bring On The Noise”, send me this gorgeous jacket and bag over from Tokyo. I always wanted to go to Tokyo and am a huge fan of his designs. I love the feeling of wearing a piece of Tokyo and this gorgeous collection. Amazing! Thanks so much Daisuke!!

What is this season’s concept?
Daisuke Konno: It is “Kraut/Sauerkraut”. The current collection is based on the German cabbage somewhat. It is a traditional Bavarian dish. The word “Kraut” was then used by English to name particularly a German soldier during World War I and World War II. Krautrock is also a german music style, but that is just to name how far our research went for this collection.

There are those people who are SO extremely talented in many ways, that it is almost impertinent and painful. In this case I am talking about Pun Sarasas, who is also incredible sweet and straightforward. He is forgiven ;)

Pun was born in Bangkok and raised bilingual. When moving to the UK at the age of 9 it was for an extensive education in equestrian show jumping. “I have always been close to art but at the time I very much had a professional career in riding set for me.” Pun says.

After completing his GCSEs he decided to continue high school in the States and moved in with his mom. By the end of the senior year he had to make a decision of what he wanted as a profession thus, he chose fashion. “I became intrigue by the making side of fashion and wanted to explore and gain the skills required behind it. I wanted fashion as my job and fine art as my escape.”

All the images in this post are taken behind the scenes of his final BA show at the iconic art institution Saint Martins. The collection was a tribute to Mick Jagger’s iconic wardbrobe from the 60’s to mid 70’s in the context of fashion.

“I wanted the collection to be understated but in the same time, hard to avoid. What was most important was to make this collection grow on you with modesty- that for me is exciting and fresh.” states Pun.

The trousers from the following image…

…were seen on Caroline Issa (Tank magazine) just two days ago.

…and this tee will be seen on my very self tomorrow!

Thank you so much Pun Sarasas! And special thanks for Niki Lisa Nantaterm for connecting us in the first place!

Manbo Key was brought up by his grandmother in a little village and soon started to dig into his origins. After graduating from university, Manbo had no job and nothing better to do than wander around his flat, go to flea markets and rummage through all the things at his disposal. There he discovered a faulty 35mm Yashica camera. His works are a mix of many stories and layers like paintings where the vivid colours convey his ties to Taiwanese culture.

“The camera would automatically overexpose all my photos, probably because of the wear [and tear] or maybe some little chink around the camera back, but the fact is I couldn’t help falling in love with her.”

Read the whole interview I did with the surreal photographer on my beloved Dazed Digital

Alessia Landi is fantastic. Full stop.

 She is also an Italian girl from Florence (that is where we met the first time last weekend), but her current home is in Gent, Belgium. Alessia is in fact a scientist, but deeply in love with Fashion and Art. I was running through Florence with her for a whole day, in 35 degrees, to put together a street style range for Elle UK. All very spontaneous and so is this interview - unedited of course…

What the hell got you into fashion?
Alessia Landi: My DNA. I bought my first Vogue when I was 8 years old and before that I was always reading (well, watching) my mom’s fashion magazines and harshly commenting the outfits of the girls in cartoons and animes (I’m serious), so it must have been something kinda instinctive. I’ve always been a very visual person.

What was your first passion and how does it manifest itself today?
Alessia Landi: Drawing. My memories starts with me drawing. I think I started at around 3 years old or something like that, it has always been my biggest pleasure, my world.

I had quasi compulsive moments (my childhood) and a big hiatus (during adolescence) but now it’s kinda consistent and regular and I couldn’t live without it. When I was a kid I was always drawing only girls and clothes, and nobody understood very well why… Now I still do that, but I know that this weird only-girl-only-fashion drawing has a name and it’s called “Fashion illustration”.

What is the best advice you got so far?
Alessia Landi: To be true to what I love and to my style and never try to copy others. Its sounds boring but it’s so true… Fashion-wise, my mom also taught me to love fashion but never be slave to trends and what others do or like. It’s kind of a life-savior lesson if you like fashion I think, and it helps you to stick to what you like instead of following the mass. If you want to write/draw/photograph about fashion this is super-important to have your own peculiar voice.

What is your worst fashion secret?
Alessia Landi: Uhm… When I was 13 I wanted to look like Sporty Spice so I was always going around in Adidas suits and with my hair in a high pony tail. Please don’t tell it to anyone.

How does London inspires you?
Alessia Landi: It’s a crazy city. The first time I visited it I was 15 and felt so free there… Went back home and died my hair in fluoro red and started to dress “alternative” ahah

No but seriously, it’s a very spontaneous city, also in fashion of course. And modern but somehow attached to British roots and traditions, I like this contrast (like Tokyo, for example). I have the feeling that you can really express yourself there. And to me it’s THE city of melting pot and art. And Japanese food ahah! I love to go there as often as possible.

What do you have for breakfast?
Alessia Landi: ight now I’m on a diet (boooo) and I have a thin slice of whole grain bread, coffe, light plain yoghurt and blueberries EVERY SINGLE DAY.  My ideal breakfast is typically italian though: fresh pastry and cappuccino.

You just started with street style, can you tell us where you get the guts to ask people to shoot them?
Alessia Landi: I don’t! In normal days and situations I don’t ask and end up with no pics. Which is a pity because I go to Amsterdam quite often and there is a great street style over there.  At fashion week everyone knows more or less that there is a chance that they’ll be photographed and they usually like it, so I don’t mind asking. In Florence for Luisa Via Roma it was different, I had the adrenaline of the event (and when you say “Elle UK” everyone say yes ahaha) and you were with me as a back-up ;-)

If a fashion brand would make you really happy with a present, what could this be?
Alessia Landi: A bag!! I love accessories and bags have always been my favorites… Lately I’m really into the Bao Bao bag from Issey Miyake, it was love at first sight!

Music and in general noise seems to be key in every step Daisuke Konno takes, inspiring his forward thinking label, Bring On The Noise. I was honoured to interview Daisuke for Dazed & Confused’s platform Satellite Voices. He additional shared with me a very personal video interview, an insight into his latest collection…